Traders Corner

The JSE closed firmer on Monday after a negative start, as marginally higher European markets lifted investor sentiment.

The rand was firmer against the dollar in the late afternoon trade on Monday as the greenback continued to show weakness against the euro.

US stocks ended weaker on Monday, pulling back from a recent rally that took them to new 2016 highs, as losses in commodity-related and industrial shares offset gains in healthcare stocks.

European stocks bounced back from one month lows on Monday, led higher by gains in defensive stocks, but telecommunication stocks fell after talks between Orange and Bouygues on creating a dominant French operator collapsed.

China stocks rose on Tuesday as a series of government support measures and improving economic data revived investors' appetite for riskier assets, though thin trading volume indicated that confidence remains fragile.

Japan's Nikkei share average tumbled to a six-week low on Tuesday morning after the stronger yen hurt the overall market mood, while a drop in Fast Retailing Co weighed after the clothing company reported a poor monthly sales.

Gold jumped 1% on Tuesday following a two-day decline, as Asian stocks slid on weak oil prices and mixed views on the outlook for US FederalReserve monetary policy.

Oil prices fell on Monday, with Brent touching one-month lows as investors doubted that producers will freeze output to rein in a worldwide glut.